THORNBURY Running Club's Magda Johnson prepared diligently ahead of her first marathon on Sunday in Dorset, including lonely 20-mile training sessions pounding the pavement up and down the A38.

All the sacrifice proved worthwhile as she completed the full 26.2 mile course in Dorchester in 578th place in six hours 28:40 mins.

Magda was joined on the day by experienced marathon campaigner, Neil Roff. Neil racked up another marathon in a time of four hours 35 mins in 259th place.

Rosina Rowland had used the 55 mile ultra-marathon Hardmoors 55 in March as preparation for the Hardmoors 110 on Saturday and Sunday.

In March, the ‘shorter’ race was abandoned after 40 miles due to freezing conditions when some of the higher hills became too dangerous to cross and the competitor’s water bottles and food had frozen solid.

Thankfully, warmer conditions greeted Rosina at the weekend for the imposing 110-mile course, which followed the Cleveland Way National Trail and looped around the North York Moors.

With a time limit of 36 hours to beat, Rosina kept a steady pace to finish in an impressive time of 34 hours 58:49 mins in 9th place. Rosina has now targeted the Hardmoors 60 in September to complete the Triple Ring Challenge, awarded to anyone who completes three Hardmoor races in a calendar year.

Andrew Darton had a busy weekend’s racing, starting with the Wells 5k on Sunday. Andrew was vying for the lead throughout and finished in an excellent second place in 18:33 mins and first Male Vet.

Four Thornbury RC runners were at the Hogweed Trot on Bank Holiday Monday evening near Yate.

Andrew Darton suffered a hamstring injury during the race, which explained his slower time of 47:19 mins in 116th place. Chris Foley was next in 163rd in 51:03 mins, followed by Angela Bushell 189th 51:35 mins and David Flemington 58:39 mins.

John Grimsey was back at the five-mile Weston Prom Run on Thursday and was also performing pace making duties to a friend. John was 265th in 57:01 mins and helped guide his friend to a new PB.

On the local Mundy Playing Fields parkrun course on Saturday Henry Orna was 6th finisher in 20:36 mins, followed by a new personal best from Kevin Arnold in 23:16 mins. Other results included Moray Sloan 23:48 mins, Chris Foley 25:57 mins, Peter Blenkiron 28:22 mins and Nigel Hale 30:55 mins.

Kevin Wood ran 22:42 mins at Chipping Sodbury parkrun and Matt Johnstone was further afield and finished in 20:06 mins at Portobello parkrun in Edinburgh.